DCAT-US 3.0: Quality and Governance

Quality and Governance

Supporting classes for standards, documents, catalog records, data services, and attribution used in governance and quality description.

Class Standard #

A standard or specification that another resource conforms to

• Type: object
• Additional properties: Any type allowed

Example:

{
    "@type": "Standard",
    "title": "DCAT-US 3.0",
    "description": "Data Catalog Vocabulary - United States Profile version 3.0",
    "issued": "2024-01-15",
    "identifier": {
        "@type": "Identifier",
        "notation": "DCAT-US-3.0",
        "schemaAgency": "U.S. General Services Administration"
    },
    "inScheme": {
        "@type": "ConceptScheme",
        "title": "Federal Data Standards",
        "description": "A collection of data standards used by federal agencies"
    }
}

Standard > description #

Requirement: Recommended

Plain-language summary of the standard

• Type: null or string

Examples:

"Data Catalog Vocabulary - United States Profile version 3.0"

"The DCAT-US 3.0 schema defines a standard metadata format for data catalogs in the United States government, based on W3C DCAT."

Standard > identifier #

Requirement: Recommended

The unique identifier for the Standard, e.g. the URI or other unique identifier in the context of the Catalog

• Type: null or Identifier

Standard > inScheme #

Requirement: Recommended

The reference register to which the Standard belongs

• Type: null or ConceptScheme

Standard > issued #

Requirement: Recommended

The date of formal issuance (e.g., publication) of the Standard

• Type: null or object

Examples:

"2024-01-15"

"2024-01-15T10:30:00Z"

"2024"

"2024-01"

Standard > title #

Requirement: Recommended

Human-readable title of the standard

• Type: null or string

Examples:

"DCAT-US 3.0"

"DCAT-US 3.0 - Data Catalog Vocabulary United States Profile"

Standard > @id #

Requirement: Optional

• Type: string
• Format: iri

Example:

"https://example.gov/standards/dcat-us-3"

Standard > @type #

Requirement: Optional

• Type: string
• Default: "Standard"

Standard > category #

Requirement: Optional

List of categories for the Standard

• Type: null or array of Concept classes

Each item of this array must be:

• Concept: A controlled term or label, optionally drawn from a concept scheme

Standard > created #

Title: creation date

Requirement: Optional

The date on which the Standard has been first created

• Type: null or object

Examples:

"2023-01-01"

"2024-01-15T10:30:00Z"

"2024"

"2024-01"

Standard > modified #

Title: last modified

Requirement: Optional

The most recent date on which the Standard was changed or modified

• Type: null or object

Examples:

"2024-06-01"

"2024-01-15T10:30:00Z"

"2024"

"2024-01"

Standard > otherIdentifier #

Requirement: Optional

A list of identifiers for the Standard besides the main identifier, e.g. the URI or other unique identifiers in the context of the Catalog

• Type: null or array of Identifier classes

Each item of this array must be:

• Identifier: A unique identifier and optionally it’s scheme and other relevant information

Class Document #

A publication or other document related to a resource

• Type: object
• Additional properties: Any type allowed

Example:

{
    "@type": "Document",
    "title": "Climate Data User Guide",
    "description": "A guide for accessing and using the National Climate Data Center's data products.",
    "accessURL": "https://example.gov/docs/climate-user-guide",
    "mediaType": "application/pdf",
    "identifier": "NCDC-UG-2024-001",
    "issued": "2024-03-15",
    "publisher": [
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "name": "National Climate Data Center"
        }
    ],
    "bibliographicCitation": "National Climate Data Center. (2024). Climate Data User Guide. Retrieved from https://example.gov/docs/climate-user-guide"
}

Document > title #

Requirement: Mandatory

The title of the Document

• Type: string
• Required: Yes

Example:

"Climate Data User Guide"

Document > bibliographicCitation #

Requirement: Recommended

Bibliographic citation as text

• Type: null or string

Examples:

"National Climate Data Center. (2024). Climate Data User Guide. Retrieved from https://example.gov/docs/climate-user-guide"

"National Climate Data Center. (2024). Climate Data User Guide. U.S. Department of Commerce."

Document > description #

Requirement: Recommended

Plain-language summary of the document

• Type: null or string

Examples:

"A guide for accessing and using the National Climate Data Center's data products."

"A comprehensive guide for accessing and using the National Climate Data Center's data products and services."

Document > identifier #

Requirement: Recommended

The unique identifier for the Document (e.g. DOI, ISBN)

• Type: null or Identifier

Document > issued #

Title: publication date

Requirement: Recommended

Publication date of the Document

• Type: null or object

Examples:

"2024-01-15"

"2024-01-15T10:30:00Z"

"2024"

"2024-01"

Document > publisher #

Requirement: Recommended

The organization(s) that published the Document

• Type: null or array of Organization classes

Each item of this array must be:

• Organization: An organization involved with a resource, including parent or child organizations

Document > @id #

Requirement: Optional

• Type: string
• Format: iri

Example:

"https://example.gov/documents/climate-user-guide-001"

Document > @type #

Requirement: Optional

• Type: string
• Default: "Document"

Document > abstract #

Requirement: Optional

Text abstract of the Document

• Type: null or string

Example:

"This document provides detailed instructions for using climate data products, including API access, file formats, and data interpretation guidelines."

Document > accessURL #

Requirement: Optional

A URL that gives access to the Document

• Type: null or string

Example:

"https://example.gov/docs/climate-user-guide"

Document > category #

Requirement: Optional

List of categories/genres for the Document

• Type: null or array of Concept classes

Each item of this array must be:

• Concept: A controlled term or label, optionally drawn from a concept scheme

Document > conformsTo #

Requirement: Optional

List of standards or specifications the document follows

• Type: null or array of Standard classes

Each item of this array must be:

• Standard: A standard or specification that another resource conforms to

Document > corporateCreator #

Title: corporate author

Requirement: Optional

The corporate organization(s) responsible for creating the Document

• Type: null or array of Organization classes

Each item of this array must be:

• Organization: An organization involved with a resource, including parent or child organizations

Document > creator #

Title: author

Requirement: Optional

The individual(s) responsible for creating the Document

• Type: null or array of Kind classes

Each item of this array must be:

• Kind: Contact information for an individual or entity

Document > downloadURL #

Requirement: Optional

A URL that is a direct link to a downloadable file of the Document in a given format

• Type: null or string

Example:

"https://example.gov/docs/climate-user-guide.pdf"

Document > mediaType #

Requirement: Optional

The file format of the Document as defined in the official register of media types managed by IANA: https://www.iana.org/assignments/media-types/media-types.xhtml

• Type: null or string

Example:

"application/pdf"

Document > otherIdentifier #

Requirement: Optional

A list of identifiers for the Document besides the main identifier, e.g. the URI or other unique identifiers in the context of the Catalog

• Type: null or array of Identifier classes

Each item of this array must be:

• Identifier: A unique identifier and optionally it’s scheme and other relevant information

Class CatalogRecord #

A record in a catalog, describing the registration of a single resource

• Type: object
• Additional properties: Any type allowed

Example:

{
    "@type": "CatalogRecord",
    "modified": "2024-06-15",
    "primaryTopic": "https://example.gov/datasets/climate-data-2024",
    "title": "Climate Data 2024 Catalog Entry",
    "issued": [
        "2024-01-15"
    ],
    "status": "published",
    "conformsTo": {
        "@type": "Standard",
        "title": "DCAT-US 3.0"
    }
}

CatalogRecord > modified #

Title: update/modification date

Requirement: Mandatory

The most recent date on which the catalog record was changed or modified

• Type: combining
• Required: Yes
• Additional properties: Any type allowed

Examples:

"2024-06-15"

"2024-01-15T10:30:00Z"

"2024"

"2024-01"

Any of:

• item 0
• item 1
• item 2
• item 3

CatalogRecord > modified > anyOf > item 0 #

• Type: string
• Format: date-time

CatalogRecord > modified > anyOf > item 1 #

• Type: string
• Format: date

CatalogRecord > modified > anyOf > item 2 #

A year in YYYY format

• Type: string

Restrictions:

• Must match regular expression: ^[0-9]{4}$ Test

CatalogRecord > modified > anyOf > item 3 #

A year and month in YYYY-MM format

• Type: string

Restrictions:

• Must match regular expression: ^[0-9]{4}-[0-9]{2}$ Test

CatalogRecord > primaryTopic #

Requirement: Mandatory

A link to the Dataset, Data service or Catalog described in the Catalog Record

• Type: string
• Required: Yes

Examples:

"https://example.gov/datasets/climate-data-2024"

"https://example.gov/datasets/climate-data-2023"

CatalogRecord > conformsTo #

Title: application profile

Requirement: Recommended

An Application Profile that the Catalog Record’s metadata conforms to

• Type: null or Standard

CatalogRecord > status #

Title: change type

Requirement: Recommended

The status of the catalog record in the context of editorial flow of the dataset and data service descriptions

• Type: null or Concept

CatalogRecord > @id #

Requirement: Optional

• Type: string
• Format: iri

Example:

"https://example.gov/catalog-records/climate-dataset-record-001"

CatalogRecord > @type #

Requirement: Optional

• Type: string
• Default: "CatalogRecord"

CatalogRecord > description #

Title: Descriptions

Requirement: Optional

A list of free-text accounts of the catalog record

• Type: null or array of string

Example:

[
    "This catalog record describes the registration of the Climate Data 2023 dataset.",
    "Contains metadata about when the dataset was added and last updated."
]

Each item of this array must be:

• Description string: -

Description string #

• Type: string

CatalogRecord > issued #

Title: listing date

Requirement: Optional

List of dates on which the catalog record was included in the catalog

• Type: null or array of object

Examples:

[
    "2024-01-15T10:30:00Z"
]

[
    "2024-01-15"
]

[
    "2024"
]

[
    "2024-01"
]

Each item of this array must be:

• Date string: -

Date string #

• Type: combining
• Additional properties: Any type allowed

Any of:

• item 0
• item 1
• item 2
• item 3

CatalogRecord > issued > Date string > anyOf > item 0 #

• Type: string
• Format: date-time

CatalogRecord > issued > Date string > anyOf > item 1 #

• Type: string
• Format: date

CatalogRecord > issued > Date string > anyOf > item 2 #

A year in YYYY format

• Type: string

Restrictions:

• Must match regular expression: ^[0-9]{4}$ Test

CatalogRecord > issued > Date string > anyOf > item 3 #

A year and month in YYYY-MM format

• Type: string

Restrictions:

• Must match regular expression: ^[0-9]{4}-[0-9]{2}$ Test

CatalogRecord > language #

Requirement: Optional

Language code used in catalog record metadata text, using ISO 639-1 values such as en or es, full list can be seen at https://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/iso639-1.html

• Type: combining
• Additional properties: Any type allowed

Examples:

"en"

[
    "en",
    "es"
]

Any of:

• Null allowed when not required
• Language code
• Array of language codes

CatalogRecord > language > anyOf > Null allowed when not required #

• Type: null

CatalogRecord > language > anyOf > Language code #

• Type: string

Restrictions:

• Max length: 2

CatalogRecord > language > anyOf > Array of language codes #

• Type: array of string

Each item of this array must be:

• Language code: -

Language code #

• Type: string

Restrictions:

• Max length: 2

CatalogRecord > source #

Title: source metadata

Requirement: Optional

The original metadata that was used in creating metadata for the items in the catalog record, either a URL referencing the source metadata or a string of the source metadata itself

• Type: null or string

Example:

"Original metadata harvested from NOAA data portal"

CatalogRecord > title #

Requirement: Optional

A name given to the Catalog Record

• Type: null or string

Examples:

"Climate Data 2024 Catalog Entry"

"Climate Data 2023 Catalog Record"

Class DataService #

A service that provides access to data or data processing functions

• Type: object
• Additional properties: Any type allowed

Example:

{
    "@type": "DataService",
    "title": "Climate Data API",
    "description": "RESTful API providing access to historical climate observations.",
    "endpointURL": [
        "https://api.example.gov/climate/v1"
    ],
    "endpointDescription": [
        "https://api.example.gov/climate/v1/openapi.json"
    ],
    "contactPoint": [
        {
            "fn": "API Support Team",
            "hasEmail": "mailto:api-support@example.gov"
        }
    ],
    "publisher": {
        "name": "National Climate Data Center"
    },
    "keyword": [
        "climate",
        "weather",
        "API"
    ],
    "license": "https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/",
    "servesDataset": [
        {
            "@id": "https://example.gov/datasets/climate-observations-2024",
            "@type": "Dataset",
            "title": "Climate Observations 2024",
            "description": "Annual climate observation data.",
            "contactPoint": {
                "fn": "Climate Support",
                "hasEmail": "mailto:climate@example.gov"
            },
            "publisher": {
                "name": "National Climate Data Center"
            },
            "identifier": "https://example.gov/datasets/climate-observations-2024"
        }
    ],
    "identifier": "https://example.gov/services/climate-api"
}

DataService > contactPoint #

Requirement: Mandatory

Contact information for questions about the Data Service. Include an email address that is continuously monitored

• Type: array of Kind classes
• Required: Yes

Each item of this array must be:

• Kind: Contact information for an individual or entity

DataService > endpointURL #

Requirement: Mandatory

A list of root locations or primary endpoints of the service (a Web-resolvable IRI)

• Type: array of string
• Required: Yes

Examples:

[
    "https://api.example.gov/climate/v1"
]

[
    "https://api.example.gov/climate/v1",
    "https://api.example.gov/climate/v2"
]

Each item of this array must be:

• URLs: The root location or primary endpoint of the service (a Web-resolvable IRI)

URLs #

The root location or primary endpoint of the service (a Web-resolvable IRI)

• Type: string
• Format: iri

DataService > publisher #

Requirement: Mandatory

Person or organization responsible for publishing and making the data service available

• Type: object
• Required: Yes
• Additional properties: Any type allowed
• Defined in: Agent

DataService > title #

Requirement: Mandatory

Human-readable title of the data service

• Type: string
• Required: Yes

Example:

"Climate Data REST API"

DataService > endpointDescription #

Requirement: Recommended

List of endpoint descriptions with operations and parameters (for example, OpenAPI or similar service documentation)

• Type: null or array of string

Examples:

[
    "https://api.example.gov/climate/v1/openapi.json"
]

[
    "https://api.example.gov/climate/docs/openapi.json"
]

Each item of this array must be:

• endpointDescription items: -

Array Item #

• Type: string

DataService > license #

Requirement: Recommended

License that governs how the data service can be used or reused

• Type: null or string

Example:

"https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/"

DataService > servesDataset #

Requirement: Recommended

List of datasets this service provides access to

• Type: null or array of Dataset classes

Each item of this array must be:

• Dataset: A collection of data published or curated by one provider

DataService > @id #

Requirement: Optional

• Type: string
• Format: iri

Example:

"https://example.gov/data-services/climate-api-001"

DataService > @type #

Requirement: Optional

• Type: string
• Default: "DataService"

DataService > accessRights #

Requirement: Optional

Information about whether the data service is publicly accessible, restricted, or not public

• Type: null or string

Example:

"Public access with no restrictions"

DataService > category #

Requirement: Optional

List of high-level categories for the data service

• Type: null or array of Concept classes

Each item of this array must be:

• Concept: A controlled term or label, optionally drawn from a concept scheme

DataService > conformsTo #

Requirement: Optional

List of general standards or specifications that the Data Service endpoints implement

• Type: null or array of Standard classes

Each item of this array must be:

• Standard: A standard or specification that another resource conforms to

DataService > created #

Title: creation date

Requirement: Optional

The date on which the Data Service was first created

• Type: null or object

Examples:

"2020-01-15"

"2024-01-15T10:30:00Z"

"2024"

"2024-01"

DataService > creator #

Requirement: Optional

List of agents primarily responsible for producing the Data Service

• Type: null or array of Agent classes

Each item of this array must be:

• Agent: A person, organization, software agent, or other entity involved with a resource

DataService > description #

Requirement: Optional

Plain-language summary of the data service

• Type: null or string

Example:

"A RESTful API providing access to historical and real-time climate data including temperature, precipitation, and atmospheric conditions."

DataService > hasQualityMeasurement #

Title: quality measurement

Requirement: Optional

Quality measurements for the data service (for example, availability, response time, or reliability)

• Type: null or array of QualityMeasurement classes

Each item of this array must be:

• QualityMeasurement: A measurement of a resource against a specific quality metric

DataService > identifier #

Requirement: Optional

The unique identifier for the Data Service, e.g. the URI or other unique identifier in the context of the Catalog

• Type: null or Identifier

DataService > keyword #

Title: keyword/tag

Requirement: Optional

List of keywords or tags describing the data service

• Type: null or array of string

Examples:

[
    "climate",
    "weather",
    "API"
]

[
    "climate",
    "weather",
    "temperature",
    "API",
    "REST"
]

Each item of this array must be:

• Non-empty strings: -

Non-empty strings #

• Type: string

Restrictions:

• Min length: 1

DataService > language #

Requirement: Optional

ISO 639-1 language code values supported by the data service, such as en or es, full list can be seen at https://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/iso639-1.html

• Type: combining
• Additional properties: Any type allowed

Examples:

"en"

[
    "en",
    "es"
]

Any of:

• Null allowed when not required
• Language code
• List of lanuages

DataService > language > anyOf > Null allowed when not required #

• Type: null

DataService > language > anyOf > Language code #

• Type: string

Restrictions:

• Max length: 2

DataService > language > anyOf > List of lanuages #

• Type: array of string

Each item of this array must be:

• Language code: -

Language code #

• Type: string

Restrictions:

• Max length: 2

DataService > modified #

Title: update/modification date

Requirement: Optional

The most recent date on which the Data Service was changed or modified

• Type: null or object

Examples:

"2024-03-20"

"2024-01-15T10:30:00Z"

"2024"

"2024-01"

DataService > otherIdentifier #

Requirement: Optional

A list of identifiers for the Data Service besides the main identifier, e.g. the URI or other unique identifiers in the context of the Catalog

• Type: null or array of Identifier classes

Each item of this array must be:

• Identifier: A unique identifier and optionally it’s scheme and other relevant information

DataService > qualifiedAttribution #

Requirement: Optional

List of agents with specific responsibilities for the data service

• Type: null or array of Attribution classes

Each item of this array must be:

• Attribution: A responsibility that an agent has for a resource

DataService > rights #

Requirement: Optional

Rights statements not already covered by license or accessRights, such as copyright or policy restrictions

• Type: null or array of string

Example:

[
    "Data provided by the National Climate Data Center is in the public domain."
]

Each item of this array must be:

• rights items: -

Array Item #

• Type: string

DataService > rightsHolder #

Requirement: Optional

A list of Agents (organizations) holding rights on the Data Service

• Type: null or array of Organization classes

Each item of this array must be:

• Organization: An organization involved with a resource, including parent or child organizations

DataService > spatial #

Title: spatial/geographic coverage

Requirement: Optional

A geographic region that is covered by the Data Service

• Type: null or array of Location classes

Each item of this array must be:

• Location: A named place or geographic area

DataService > spatialResolutionInMeters #

Requirement: Optional

The minimum spatial separation resolvable in a Data Service, measured in meters

• Type: null or string

Example:

"1000"

DataService > temporal #

Title: temporal coverage

Requirement: Optional

Time periods covered by the data service

• Type: null or array of PeriodOfTime classes

Each item of this array must be:

• PeriodOfTime: Information about a specific time period with a start- and/or end-time

DataService > temporalResolution #

Requirement: Optional

The minimum time period resolvable by the Data Service

• Type: null or string

Example:

"P1D"

DataService > theme #

Title: theme/category

Requirement: Optional

List of themes or categories for the data service

• Type: null or array of Concept classes

Each item of this array must be:

• Concept: A controlled term or label, optionally drawn from a concept scheme

DataService > wasUsedBy #

Requirement: Optional

List of activities that used or tested the data service

• Type: null or array of Activity classes

Each item of this array must be:

• Activity: An activity related to creating, changing, or using a resource

Class Attribution #

A responsibility that an agent has for a resource

• Type: object
• Additional properties: Any type allowed

Example:

{
    "@type": "Attribution",
    "hadRole": "Data Steward",
    "agent": {
        "name": "Environmental Data Management Office"
    }
}

Attribution > agent #

Requirement: Mandatory

The agent that plays a role in the resource

• Type: object
• Required: Yes
• Additional properties: Any type allowed
• Defined in: Agent

Attribution > hadRole #

Title: role

Requirement: Mandatory

The function of an entity or agent with respect to another entity or resource

• Type: string
• Required: Yes

Example:

"Data Steward"

Attribution > @id #

Requirement: Optional

• Type: string
• Format: iri

Example:

"https://example.gov/attributions/dataset-steward-001"

Attribution > @type #

Requirement: Optional

• Type: string
• Default: "Attribution"